CHAPTER XXX

ninfluencedbyambition,Icansupposeitherbutaskhertoloveyou,andshewillneverhavethehearttorefuse.” Assoonashereagernesscouldrestinsilence,hewasashappytotellasshecouldbetolistenandaconversationfollowedalmostasdeeplyinterestingtoherastohimself,thoughhehadinfactnothingtorelatebuthisownsensations,nothingtodwellonbutFanny’scharms.Fanny’sbeautyoffaceandfigure,Fanny’sgracesofmannerandgoodnessofheart,weretheexhaustlesstheme.Thegentleness,modesty,andsweetnessofhercharacterwerewarmlyexpatiatedonthatsweetnesswhichmakessoessentialapartofeverywoman’sworthinthejudgmentofman,thatthoughhesometimesloveswhereitisnot,hecanneverbelieveitabsent.Hertemperhehadgoodreasontodependonandtopraise.Hehadoftenseenittried.Wasthereoneofthefamily,exceptingEdmund,whohadnotinsomewayorothercontinuallyexercisedherpatienceandforbearance?Heraffectionswereevidentlystrong.Toseeherwithherbrother!Whatcouldmoredelightfullyprovethatthewarmthofherheartwasequaltoitsgentleness?Whatcouldbemoreencouragingtoamanwhohadherloveinview?Then,herunderstandingwasbeyondeverysuspicion,quickandclearandhermannerswerethemirrorofherownmodestandelegantmind.Norwasthisall.HenryCrawfordhadtoomuchsensenottofeeltheworthofgoodprinciplesinawife,thoughhewastoolittleaccustomedtoseriousreflectiontoknowthembytheirpropernamebutwhenhetalkedofherhavingsuchasteadinessandregularityofconduct,suchahighnotionofhonour,andsuchanobservanceofdecorumasmightwarrantanymaninthefullestdependenceonherfaithandintegrity,heexpressedwhatwasinspiredbytheknowledgeofherbeingwellprincipledandreligious. “Icouldsowhollyandabsolutelyconfideinher,”saidhe“andthatiswhatIwant.” Wellmighthissister,believingasshereallydidthathisopinionofFannyPricewasscarcelybeyondhermerits,rejoiceinherprospects. “ThemoreIthinkofit,”shecried,“themoreamIconvincedthatyouaredoingquiterightandthoughIshouldneverhaveselectedFannyPriceasthegirlmostlikelytoattachyou,Iamnowpersuadedsheistheveryonetomakeyouhappy.Yourwickedprojectuponherpeaceturnsoutacleverthoughtindeed.Youwillbothfindyourgoodinit.” “Itwasbad,verybadinmeagainstsuchacreaturebutIdidnotknowherthenandsheshallhavenoreasontolamentthehourthatfirstputitintomyhead.Iwillmakeherveryhappy,Maryhappierthanshehaseveryetbeenherself,oreverseenanybodyelse.I